To: The Community Common
For Immediate Press Release:
February 5, 2011
Contact Person: Sharee Price
South Central Educational Service Center
Phone: 354-0229 or email
State Contact: Addie Natalie, State Coordinator
Ohio Center for Law-Related Education
Local: (614) 485-3507
Toll Free (877) 485-3510
TWO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS ADVANCE TO REGIONAL MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION
The Scioto County District Mock Trial Competition took place on Friday, February 4, 2011 at the Scioto County Courthouse and the Scioto County Municipal Building. Ten teams of high school students from eight school districts competed against one another in a trial called “Taylor Henlacks v. Dana Brody, M.D., Ph.D., FCAP”. The Ohio Mock Trial program is sponsored by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education (OCLRE). Each year the OCLRE creates a fictitious case involving a constitutional issue. The District Competition was coordinated by Sharee Price, Gifted Services Coordinator at the South Central Ohio Educational Service Center and Judge Howard H. Harcha, III.
The 2011 Ohio High School Mock Trial competition analyzes an individual’s rights to the body parts of a deceased family member. In this year’s case, after a youth died suddenly in a single car accident, an autopsy was performed, with the family’s consent, to determine the cause of death. During the course of the autopsy, a section of the brain was removed and sent to pathology where it was discovered that the brain cells are regenerative (or “immortal”). The decedent’s family has filed a lawsuit against the County Coroner alleging that the coroner violated the family’s due process rights by sending the regenerative cells to a research lab instead of returning them to the body.
During competition, a team of five to eleven students must play both plaintiff and defendant, and participate in two trials against different high schools. District winners from throughout the state will advance to the Regional Competition on Friday, February 25. The State Finals will then take place from March 10 - 12 in Columbus, Ohio.
The eight participating school districts in this year’s district competition were: Minford, Notre Dame, Portsmouth, Sciotoville Community, South Webster, St. Joseph Central (Ironton), Valley and Wheelersburg High. The event was sponsored locally by: American Legion James Dickey Post 23, Portsmouth Bar Association, Portsmouth Kiwanis Club, Portsmouth Rotary Club, Southern Ohio Medical Center, The Honorable Howard H. Harcha, III, the Scioto Foundation and Wendy’s.
In order to advance to the Regional Competition, a team must win both trials in the competition. This year two teams from the Scioto County District will advance to the Regional level; St. Joseph Central (Ironton) High School and Portsmouth High School.
Lead by their coaches, Ms. Amy Keating and Ms. Tracy Campbell and their legal advisor, Mr. Geordie Davis, the Portsmouth High School team won the overall competition. St. Joseph Central (Ironton) High School team won Runners-up in the competition with Ms. Glenna McClain as their coach and Mr. Mark McCown as their legal advisor.
Photos:
Group Photo of Outstanding Witnesses
Outstanding Witnesses:
(From Left to Right) Patrick O’Brien, Jordin Cross, Logan Miller, Brittany Spence, Dylan Felty, Krista Veazey, Jack Walsh, Alyssa Hankins (not pictured: Audrey Hickman and Audrey Johnson)
Group Photo of Outstanding Attorneys
Outstanding Attorneys:
(From Left to Right) Courtney Faul, Jake Lavender, Dani Owens, Alex Lindamood, Ali Miller, Brad Pierron, Kaitlin Livingston, Hayden Suver, Katelyn Compston
Group Photo of St. Joseph Central (Ironton) High School Team
Runners-up for the Mock Trial Competition – St. Joseph Central (Ironton) High School
Front Row (l to r) Ms. Glenna McClain (Coach), Mark Boykin, Monica Hodges, Rebecca Kirk, Katelyn Compston, Mr. Mark McCown (Legal Advisor)
Back Row (l to r) Patrick O’Brien, Austin Leach, Lane Johnson, Treasure Craft, Hayden Suver
Group Photo of Portsmouth High School Team
Winner of Friday’s Mock Trail at the Scioto County Courthouse – Portsmouth High School
(From Left to Right) Ms. Amy Keating (Coach), Kaitlin Livingston, Pajah Williams, Tanner Poage, Mary Pyles, Mr. Geordie Davis (Legal Advisor), Brittney Scholl, Mitch Gower, Ali Miller, Jacob Albrecht, Jordin Cross, Alex Grashel, Jori Williams, Mr. Jay Willis (Legal Advisor), Tracy Campbell (Coach) (not pictured: Casey Sanders)